Author's Note: Wow! I am so grateful to the new followers, commenters, and favorites! It means so much to feel as if my writing is liked! This is the longest chapter yet so I hope you enjoy! :)
As I walked up towards the castle and past the flowing fountains, it almost seemed as if nothing had happened. However, there was a feeling of evil in the air that I couldn't deny. Nothing looked destroyed, but I realized that many of the guards that normally surrounded the gates were gone. I turned towards Venus, "were the guards here when you left?"
"Yes, there were more than normal because of the ball." It suddenly dawned on me why exactly I was taken.
"They knew you would come for me," I said to Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. "They knew that if they took me that you would come looking for me and there would be less protection surrounding the Queen."
"But," Jupiter said, "the Queen has her own guardians. Why wouldn't they protect her?"
"Because," Mars jumped in, "they knew that the Queen would realize something was wrong and go off and look for us." I fell to the ground and covered my face with my hands, so that no one could see my tears. This was my fault, if I hadn't had been alone with Endymion and after he left, they couldn't have taken me. I felt arms wrap around me and looked up to see Jupiter staring back down at me. I turned and hugged her and cried into her shoulder. Princess Jupiter had always been the most affectionate of my guardians, even thought she was also the strongest. Sometimes she was even like a mother figure, and at this moment I was grateful for that.
"Princess, this is not your fault. Who ever did this was most likely planning for quite sometime. We will find out who is behind this and get to the bottom of it. Even if it costs us our lives." I jerked my head up to look at her and stood up swiftly.
"No!" I shouted. "I will not watch one more person die because of me! This is my battle and mine alone. The minute you all are in danger I command you to leave. Including you Endymion. None of you asked for this, and I will not lose anyone else." Everyone seemed taken aback except for Endymion. He seemed to understand my feelings, however I wasn't convinced he would do what I asked.
"Princess," Venus walked up towards me, "You know that is not an option. We are sworn to protect you. But even if we weren't, we would stand by you 100%."
"I am about to become your queen, and as your queen I make the new regulations. You will follow what I say."
"With all due respect Serenity," I could hear a stern tone in her voice that I hadn't heard much, "You are not my queen yet. Your mother is still my queen, even in death. Therefore I will follow her orders, all of us will. Get over it, we are sticking by you." I glared at Venus and out of the corner of my eye I saw Endymion smirk. I turned towards him and watched as he stiffened.
"Well Endymion, will you at least respect my wishes?" I watched as he slightly tilted his head and gave me a slight smile.
"I can't allow my future wife and queen to fight alone can I? I told you I would protect you and that is what I will do. You are not getting around this, we will fight with you whether you like it or not. They are your friends and guardians and you are my family now, I will avenge your mother's death with you. Now let's go and see how bad this is." I sighed in defeat and nodded. I turned from him and walked up into the foyer of the castle with my family following me.
I sat and watched over Kunzite while looking over a book from Endymion's study. It was a book on Endymion's family lineage, considering we still weren't quite sure. I had realized that he hadn't spoke of his parents, and although he was a prince, his parents weren't around. I turned when I heard Kunzite shift in his bed. I could see his eyes start to slowly open, and his wound looked healed.
"Where am I? Who are you?" He turned his head towards me and then looked around his room as realization came over his face.
"I am Princess Mercury, of Princess Serenity's court. She had me stay here and look after you, she saved you."
"Saved me? What happened?" He slowly sat up and as he winced I wished there was more that I could do for his pain.
"Well, someone had brainwashed you. It seems that you locked up Princess Serenity and when she and Prince Endymion came to confront you, you stabbed her. As an act of revenge Prince Endymion killed you. However, when Princess Serenity was revived, she saved your life." There was a mix of horror and shock on his face and he ran his hand over his face.
"She saved me? Even though I tried to kill her? I thought those of the Moon Kingdom were evil and always looking for ways to hurt us. That's what we were taught...how could I have been so wrong?" He hung his head in shame then stood. "Come, I want to show you something." I looked in his eyes and could see that all signs of brainwashing was gone. I stood and followed him down the hall to a small staircase that led to a hatch in the roof. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the hatch and opened it. He walked through and I soon followed suit.
It was a large room, with stain glass windows and a stone floor. I could see a large hanging picture of a beautiful women. She was petite, with light brown hair and striking blue eyes. Standing next to her was a man that could have been Endymion, if only he was 10 years older. I quickly realized that this must have been the King and Queen. I looked around the room and saw more pictures of the King and Queen, some with Endymion but there were never any of them when Endymion was any bigger than a toddler.
"What is this room?" I turned towards Kunzite and watched as he lit a few lamps.
"This is the 'shrine' so to speak to the King and Queen. Prince Endymion comes up here every day to speak to them. Their tombs are in the vault in the wall. He speaks to them, especially his mother, says a prayer, then starts the rest of his day. He has done this everyday since their death." I turned towards him in shock. So they were dead, just as I had feared.
"What happened to them?" His head sunk low and he point me to a chair facing away from the windows.
"The story we have all been told is that they were murdered. Apparently in vengeance for her parent's death, Queen Serenity killed Endymion's father in battle. Endymion was only 3 at the time and does not remember a thing. After his death, the Queen employed us as his Shitenouu. However, not long after she killed herself in grief. Before she died, the deal was struck that the Moon and Earth should never interact. This deal was favorable after all the bloodshed. However, I am starting to wonder if that is the truth." I stared at the pictures of the King and Queen and shook my head. Queen Serenity was never in favor of murder, I knew that the King had killed her parents but that was the reason she hated violence. She had witnessed the entire thing.
"She wouldn't have done that,the Queen was never violent or angry. She always ruled with love and protection. Princess Serenity has learned love through her, it's the reason she brought you back. Serenity hates violence as well."
"What do you mean was?"
"Oh that's right, your memory. Well it seems that when you took the Princess, someone killed the Queen. We aren't quite sure who did it yet though. That is why everyone else is on the Moon now, trying to figure out what to do."
"Everyone? Do you mean Endymion is there too?" I nodded and he stood up and pulled me by my hand. "We must get up there! Endymion cannot fight alone, whoever did this is too powerful to fight without all of us!" I followed him out of the room and watched as he tried to gather the rest of the Shitenouu, however Nephrite seemed to be gone. After the rest of the Shittenou was gathered, Kunzite and I took them to the Moon Kingdom to meet up with Prince Endymion, Serenity, and the rest of the Senshi.
As I looked around the castle, I noticed the deafening silence falling over a usually boisterous castle. The ballroom had cleared, leaving many masks strewn across the floors. I wasn't what had happened to the people of my kingdom, if they had ran in fear, been taken, or killed. However, I did not welcome the feeling of dread I had in the pit of my stomach. As I walked up to my mother's throne, I noticed her own mask was dropped. Whoever had done this was no thief, as they did not take the diamond encrusted silver mask that had adorned her serene face. I bent down and picked it up, pressing it to my chest and holding close one of the many keepsakes of my mother's. I had seen her wear it so many times, yet never noticed how perfectly made for her it was until this moment.
I found my small satchel next to my own throne and placed the mask inside. As I slung the satchel around me I held hope somewhere that this was one drawn out nightmare, although I knew that wasn't the case. I heard foot steps approaching and turned to see my mothers confidant, Luna, walking towards me. Her long black hair swaying as she quickened her pace, he deep green eyes clearly frightened. "Princess!" She bellowed as she saw me. "Princess! Are you alright?" She ran towards me and wrapped her arms around me. Luna had been close to a mother to me, helping me train to become a princess when my mother wasn't able. I hugged her tight, happy to feel a warm embrace.
"Yes, I'm physically fine. However, I cannot say the same mentally. I know of my mother's death, however I do not know how. But, what has happened to the rest of the kingdom? This is almost like a ghost town!" She pulled away and looked into my eyes, she seemed to be searching for something although I was quite sure what.
"I do not know the circumstances of your mother's death, however I do know where the rest of the kingdom is. The men have gone to get ready for battle and the women and children and preparing for a trip to safety. Artemis is finding them somewhere safe as we speak. I am so happy that you are okay! When I found the Queen's body I was scared the same fate had been afforded to you." She looked down in sadness and I sat down contemplating the horror she must have went through seeing my mother's body. She was closer to my mother than I was, her dearest friend for such a long time. Luna looked towards me and I sighed realizing that she wanted an explanation.
"I was kidnapped," I started. I explained to her of the brainwashing, my mother coming to me in death, my having the power of the Silver Crystal, and all the other happenings of the last 12 hours. She put her hand on my cheek and looked at me with the same love in her eyes that my mother always had.
"My dear, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am for the horror you have seen today. I never wanted this life for you, I wanted you to live without a war and to find love. However, it seems that you must now reign and help fight." I nodded, having already coming to terms with this fact.
"Luna, why don't you go with Princess Mars and Venus to look around for any more enemy's on our grounds." She nodded and left as Mars and Venus followed. Luna was one of the few other than Endymion and my Guardians I could trust now. I just hope I don't lose her as well.
Endymion can up and stood by my side, taking my small hand into his enveloping ones. "What shall we do now?" I looked away as a tear fell down my face hoping I would be able to avoid his eyes. However, I felt his warm fingers brush it away.
"I think we should find a proper place to bury my mother." He nodded and helped me up as we began our search. I wasn't quite sure if this would be the beginning of my reign as Queen or the beginning of the end.